re: the tomes in the chest......
when you're ready for that bit.
later on, after a bit of tea, she shows you the chest in question.
small, oak and iron chest, treated and cared for impeccably;
a small lock on the front (she proffers the key)
and within.....
several old tomes, and one relatively newer book;
Manual of the Order of The Palatine Eye,
a rich, purple covered book, with a brass scarab with an eye set in the centre; this book is locked, and there is no key present.
"deliver to Judge Embreth Daramid in Lepidstadt," says a note on this book.
On Verified Madness a jet black cover of unidentified material. Feels cold.
Serving Your Hunger a brownish, cracked leather cover; this book didn't age well.
The Umbral Leaves a stately, gray covered book, with a spine in the motif of a silver spinal column.
The last three, according to notes, are to go to one Montaigne Crowl,
a professor at the Lepidstadt University, not to be confused with Aleister Crowley.
Finally, a new book, leather cover, with a big ass note on it that says "READ ME NOW!!!" like a big ass glowing exclamation point in the air.....
Ha Ha!
Wod can't read! NEENER NEENER NEENER!!!
"Aye, the will did seem quite specific... Prophetic, almost. I think we should consider heavily the possibility that someone or some thing was stalking the good professor. The circumstances surrounding his untimely and tragic death do not sit well with me, and I fear these tomes may well have played a motivating role in what I suspect took place. Does anyone here know the circumstances of the discovery of the Professor's corpse?"
Sitting silently throughout the reading of the will, and voicing no question when asked, Rholf finally moves from his chair after the official proceedings are done, approaching Kendra, he takes her hand, and bows slightly. "Miss Lorimor, you have Sarenrae's blessing, and my sword, at the expense of my life if needs be. I do agree with Castiel, we should take possession, and therefore guard, of aforementioned tomes with all due haste. I pray that we are a blessing to you while here, and you have my eternal gratitude for your hospitality, Miss."
With that, Rholf moves to stand calmly near the door.
"Why, thankyou Rholf. I do not know what I plan yet. This is all happening so fast. Sell the house.....stay here.....but you're all welcome, one...." and she looks at Wod; "one and all.....for as long as all this takes to get sorted out. This business with the books....."
She looks at Wod concernedly, then Vashian Hearthmount, seated at the desk, begins to read the will...
<Wod will quiz them on the way to the manor. Especially Edwin and Castiel.>
"You please tell Wod where is George."
Ha Ha!
Wod can't read! NEENER NEENER NEENER!!!
"Wod not need books. Wod has axe."
<And so only Wod will resist the evil. Frodo. Ring.>
"Why, thankyou Rholf. I do not know what I plan yet. This is all happening so fast. Sell the house.....stay here.....but you're all welcome, one...." and she looks at Wod; "one and all.....for as long as all this takes to get sorted out. This business with the books....."
<Wod silently stares the barbarian death glare at Kendra throughout the reading.>
<Wod silently stares the barbarian death glare at Kendra throughout the reading.>
"Why, thankyou Rholf. I do not know what I plan yet. This is all happening so fast. Sell the house.....stay here.....but you're all welcome, one...." and she looks at Wod; "one and all.....for as long as all this takes to get sorted out. This business with the books....."
"Uh, Wod. We have a nice barn out back for you. You can have it all to yourself. I assume you'd be grateful for the privacy."
"Uh, Wod. We have a nice barn out back for you. You can have it all to yourself. I assume you'd be grateful for the privacy."
<Silence...>
"....uh, Wod?...."
"Barn sound very nice. You need Wod. You find Wod there."
DM:
Edwin sighs, both appreciating and dreading the half-orc's direct bluntness.
"Wod. George is,..." Then remembering Wod's reaction to the earlier conversation, (before it went south) changes tactics.
"Wod. Has George been eating anything lately? You say he sleeps a lot, and talks to you in your head. Before George got hurt really bad, did he ever talk to you in your head before? Since he got hurt, has he walked at all? Eaten? Drank anything? And most importantly, has anyone else heard George talk to them? In their heads or out loud? I'm sorry Wod, but I'm afraid that George is dead. And if your hearing him talk to you in your head, well, either you miss him so much that you are hearing him when he is not talking, or someone else is talking to you, pretending to be George." Edwin stops, eyes widening slightly.
"Actually, That normally wouldn't concern me. But here, in this place,..." He looks around. "Well, let's just say that I wouldn't discount it." He looks at Wod curiously.
"Wod. Would you be so kind as to tell me exactly what George has been saying to you lately? Has he been talking to you as he did before he stopped moving? Being polite, telling jokes, that sort of thing?"
:)
Edwin watches the proceedings with a detached air, almost as if he were bored. He actually rolls his eyes, ever so slightly, as others begin to voice their concerns about whether the professor met his end truly by accident or not.
"Indeed. Your perception of the obvious is quite astute gentlemen." He pipes in, looking about the room with a small smile.
"I suspected foul play from the beginning. When I first received word that the Professor had been killed by falling masonry, from a house that, to my knowledge, has shown no other such wear and tear upon it's exterior." He says just a trifle smugly. "Although, with no information or proof I could hardly be certain."
"My dear Kendra. I join with the others in offering you my complete and total support in this, your time of grief. I do so gladly and I would do so even if it were not the Professor's last wish. I'm certain that between all of us, we can assist you with whatever you may need. SImply ask." He smiles.
"I, for one, will gladly accept your offer to stay in the residence for the duration. While we're here, with you kind permission, I would very much like to explore the house and grounds. As the others have noted, there a few, ... questions, regarding your father's passing that I would think you'd be happier having answered." He smiles kindly, eyes alert for her reaction to all of the conversation going on to and around her.
"Barn sound very nice. You need Wod. You find Wod there."
DM:** spoiler omitted **
Right on.
Edwin sighs, both appreciating and dreading the half-orc's direct bluntness.
"Wod. George is,..." Then remembering Wod's reaction to the earlier conversation, (before it went south) changes tactics.
"Wod. Has George been eating anything lately? You say he sleeps a lot, and talks to you in your head. Before George got hurt really bad, did he ever talk to you in your head before? Since he got hurt, has he walked at all? Eaten? Drank anything? And most importantly, has anyone else heard George talk to them? In their heads or out loud? I'm sorry Wod, but I'm afraid that George is dead. And if your hearing him talk to you in your head, well, either you miss him so much that you are hearing him when he is not talking, or someone else is talking to you, pretending to be George." Edwin stops, eyes widening slightly.
"Actually, That normally wouldn't concern me. But here, in this place,..." He looks around. "Well, let's just say that I wouldn't discount it." He looks at Wod curiously.
"Wod. Would you be so kind as to tell me exactly what George has been saying to you lately? Has he been talking to you as he did before he stopped moving? Being polite, telling jokes, that sort of thing?"
:)
Edwin watches the proceedings with a detached air, almost as if he were bored. He actually rolls his eyes, ever so slightly, as others begin to voice their concerns about whether the professor met his end truly by accident or not."Indeed. Your perception of the obvious is quite astute gentlemen." He pipes in, looking about the room with a small smile.
"I suspected foul play from the beginning. When I first received word that the Professor had been killed by falling masonry, from a house that, to my knowledge, has shown no other such wear and tear...
Just by means of clarification,.....he wasn't at the manse when he met his demise. He was up at the ruined prison. The place is delapidated. A deathtrap.
"Mi casa, su casa, as they say in Cheliax," she replies. "Feel free to have the run of the place."
later on, after a bit of tea, she shows you the chest in question.
small, oak and iron chest, treated and cared for impeccably;
a small lock on the front (she proffers the key)
and within.....
several old tomes, and one relatively newer book;
Manual of the Order of The Palatine Eye,
a rich, purple covered book, with a brass scarab with an eye set in the centre; this book is locked, and there is no key present.
"deliver to Judge Embreth Daramid in Lepidstadt," says a note on this book.
On Verified Madness a jet black cover of unidentified material. Feels cold.
Serving Your Hunger a brownish, cracked leather cover; this book didn't age well.
The Umbral Leaves a stately, gray covered book, with a spine in the motif of a silver spinal column.
The last three, according to notes, are to go to one Montaigne Crowl,
a professor at the Lepidstadt University, not to be confused with Aleister Crowley.
Finally, a new book, leather cover, with a big ass note on it that says "READ ME NOW!!!" like a big ass glowing exclamation point in the air.....
For future reference....
“I, Petros Lorrimor, being of sound mind, do hereby commit to this parchment my last will and testament. Let it be known that, with the exception of the specific details below, I leave my home and personal belongings entirely to my daughter Kendra. Use them or sell them as you see fit, my child. Yet beyond the bequeathing of my personal effects, this document must serve other needs. I have arranged for the reading of this document to be delayed until all principals can be in attendance, for I have more than mere inheritance to apportion." He then names the gathered partymembers, except for Wod, and Hearthmount pauses on Darias' name, leaving it unsaid..... "I have two final favors to ask. “To my old friends, I hate to impose upon you all, but there are few others who are capable of appreciating the true significance of what it is I have to ask. As some of you know, I have devoted many of my studies to all manner of evil, that I might know the enemy and inform those better positioned to stand against it. For knowledge of one's enemy is the surest path to victory over its plans. And so, over the course of my lifetime, I have seen fit to acquire a significant collection of valuable but dangerous tomes, any one of which in the wrong place and/or circumstances could have led to an awkward legal situation. Hearthmount clears his throat uncomfortably at this, then continues reading. While the majority of these.....tomes remain safe under lock and key at the Lepidstadt University, I fear that a few I have borrowed remain in a trunk in my Ravengro home. While invaluable for my work in life, in death, I would prefer not to burden my daughter with the darker side of my profession, or worse still, the danger of possessing these tomes herself. As such, I am entrusting my chest of tomes to you, posthumously. I ask that you please deliver the collection to my colleagues at the University of Lepidstadt, who will put them to good use for the betterment of the cause. Yet before you leave for Lepidstadt,there is the matter of another favor—please delay your journey one month and spend that period of time here in Ravengro to ensure that my daughter is safe and sound. She has no one to count on now that I am gone, and if you would aid her in setting things in order for whatever she desires over the course of this month, you would have my eternal gratitude. From my savings, I have also willed to each of you an item I stumbled upon in my last year and that reminded me of you as well as a sum of one hundred platinum coins. For safekeeping, I have left these funds with Embreth Daramid, one of my most trusted friends in Lepidstadt—she has been instructed to issue this payment upon the safe delivery of the borrowed tomes no sooner than one month after the date of the reading of this will. “I, Petros Lorrimor, hereby sign this will in Ravengro on this first day of Calistril, in the year 4711"
...
for future reference.
Oh, and for the new folks.....I made this avatar, so I could use it to keep track of important stuff, to make it easier to find without churning through pages of backthread in the future.
“He’s dead Wod,” Castiel agrees with Edwin, firmly but not unkindly. “He’s buried in the boneyard. It’s better that way. His eternal spirit will rest easier with his Golarionly body interred in a sacred place. Out of interest ... when George spoke to you recently ... what sort of things did he say?”
Castiel looks at the old books somewhat disapprovingly. He then picks up the book with the ‘read me’ note and, with a glance at his companions, opens it and begins reading.
Alinya remains pale and withdrawn through the reading of the will. She looks up briefly at the mention of forbidden books, of dangerous knowledge, then back down at her clasped hands.
Later, she crowds close behind Castiel, reading the book over his shoulder, and casting covert glances at the other, darker, tomes.
"So we are to escort these books to safety at Lepidstadt? To the University? Well I will certainly oblige the Professor in this task."
know(history)
know(nobility)
know(religion)
"...I'm sorry Wod, but I'm afraid that George is dead. ... "
“He’s dead Wod,” Castiel agrees with Edwin, firmly but not unkindly. “He’s buried in the boneyard. It’s better that way. His eternal spirit will rest easier with his Golarionly body interred in a sacred place. Out of interest ... when George spoke to you recently ... what sort of things did he say?”
<Wod puts his hand on Castiel and Edwin's shoulders and speaks quietly, almost as if he was talking to children.>
"Castiel and Edwin, in battle Wod see living and Wod see dead. Wod also see undead. Skeletons walk and kill living. Now Wod can hear when George talks. Maybe George unliving. Castiel and Edwin think it is living or it is dead but Wod sees and hears more than living and dead. Now. Castiel. Edwin. Help Wod, yes or no? If Castiel and Edwin smart again Wod say what George say."
Musing aloud, "His will is only twenty days old. I wonder if he updated it every time he brought some of these books home from his collection at the University. Or if he always updated it when he started looking into something he felt to be particularly dangerous..." As her train of thought comes into the station, she looks up suddenly, "Maybe there's something of concern up at that old prison. If we are to be in town for a month with Kendra, perhaps we can look into it."
Looking around, "I've never seen a prison." As if that was enough reason by itself...
As the books are examined, Larissa crowds in to see, trying to see past Alinya as she reads over Castiel's shoulder. Unable to see clearly, she mutters to herself, "What does it say?"
Nigel, silent since the will reading, pipes up
"I certainly would like to peruse the books the good professor has entrusted us with."
He looks at the tomes revealed by the young Miss Lorrimor with an academic's greed
Know(arcana):
"Hmmm... What's this, then?" Myron leans over Nigel's shoulder, peering at the book.
Castiel looks at the old books somewhat disapprovingly. He then picks up the book with the ‘read me’ note and, with a glance at his companions, opens it and begins reading.
And there's another longish diatribe to do with this one......
This appears to be the Professor's journal; most entries detail life in a small town but there are spots here and there that have been circled in red:
"20th Pharast, 4701:
The Whispering Way is more than just a cabal of necromancers. I see that now. Undeath is their fountain of youth. Uncovering their motivation does not place me at ease as I thought it might. Their desire to be eternal simply makes them more dangerous.
8th Sarenith, 4711:
It is as I had feared. The Way is interested in something here in Ravengro. But what could it be?
12th Erastus, 4711:
Whatever the Way seeks, I am now convinced their goal is connected to Harrowstone. In retrospect, I suppose it all makes sense—the stories they tell about the ruins in town are certainly chilling enough. It may be time to investigate the ruins, but with everyone in town already being so worked up about them, I’d rather not let the others know about my curiosity—there’s plenty of folks hereabouts who already think I’m a demonologist or a witch or something. Ignorant fools.
31st Erastus, 4711:
It is confirmed. The Way seems quite interested in something—no, strike that—someone who was held in Harrowstone. But who, specifically, is the Way after? I need a list of everyone who died the night of the fire. Everyone. The Temple of Pharasma must have such a list.
2nd Calastril, 4711:
I see now just how ill prepared I was when I last set out for the Harrowstone. I am lucky
to have returned at all. The ghosts, if indeed they were ghosts (for I did not find it prudent to
investigate further) prevented me from transcribing the strange symbols I found etched along the foundation—hopefully on my next visit I will be more prepared. Thankfully, the necessary tools to defend against spirits are already here in Ravengro. I know that the church of Pharasma used to store them in a false crypt in the Restlands at the intersection between Eversleep and the Black Path. I am not certain if the current clergy even know of what their predecessors have hidden down below. If my luck holds, I should be able to slip in and out with a few borrowed items.
3rd Calastril, 4711:
Tomorrow evening I return to the prison. It is imperative the Way does not finish. My caution
has already cost me too much time. I am not sure what will happen if I am too late, but if my
theory is right, the entire town could be at risk. I hastily updated my will, so I’ll
leave this in the chest where it’ll be sure to be found, should the worst come to pass."
(note.....I switched Calastril with "Arodus," if it matters to anybody, to keep things in line).
Does Alinya recognize any of the book titles, authors, or the intended recipients?
know(history) 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
know(nobility) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
know(religion) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Nigel,....., looks at the tomes revealed by the young Miss Lorrimor with an academic's greed
Know(arcana): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Myron leans over Nigel's shoulder, peering at the book.
Knowledge (arcana) 12+7=19.
Have to do a little of my own researchery for a bit......
You too!
With these rolls.....
The Manual of the Order of the Palatine Eye....
nobility roll;
Alinya:
Alinya's great Aunt, the Duchess, was a member of said organization. They are a secretive Mystic Order based on the arcane teachings of Ancient Osirion......
they're Ustalav's "freemasons."
On Verified Madness....
Alinya:
It was used by a group of champions 125 years ago who saved Ustalav from horrid fungal creatures that sought to enslave men by containing their brains in vats for some bizarre purpose.....a group of champions that ultimately met an untimely demise.
Nigel; Myron:
Serving Your Hunger
Alinya, Nigel, Myron:
The Umbral Leaves
Alinya, Nigel, Myron:
Oh, Nigel, Myron;
An hour goes by as the bookish types peruse the manuals in the chest, scratching their head.
Learning things they wished they hadn't.
About the universe, and humanity's antlike place within it all.
<Wod survey the surroundings while the smart people read their foolish books.>
"Maybe Edwin and Castiel find book on unliving. Then they believe Wod."
<Wod puts his hand on Castiel and Edwin's shoulders and speaks quietly, almost as if he was talking to children.>
"Castiel and Edwin, in battle Wod see living and Wod see dead. Wod also see undead. Skeletons walk and kill living. Now Wod can hear when George talks. Maybe George unliving. Castiel and Edwin think it is living or it is dead but Wod sees and hears more than living and dead. Now. Castiel. Edwin. Help Wod, yes or no? If Castiel and Edwin smart again Wod say what George say."
Castiel looks troubled. “I … would like to help you Wod. I will do what I can – but returning George to you alive is beyond my power, and digging up his dead body is against my vows. What would you have us do?”
He sighs. "Strange things are afoot in this town and this land ... maybe George is talking to you, somehow. But I saw him Wod, I examined him closely, and I can tell you he was not living."
Castiel closes the diary with a thud. “Ghosts. Necromancers. Conspiracies.” He pulls aside the lapel of his armoured coat to check on the stakes, silver daggers, vials of holy water and such tucked into the reinforced pockets within. “Looks as though we’ll have our hands full here.”
---
While the scholarly types peruse the books late into the evening, Castiel ensures that the manor’s lamps and fireplaces are kept bright. “Some things should not be undertaken in the shadows,” he says.
He toys with the diary, wondering about the old prison, the Pharasman’s hidden cache, and most of all, The Whispering Way.
The whispering way is an ultra secretive group of necromancers.
They are dedicated to plunging the world into death to achieve hamony.
They don't record anything about their philosophy anywhere.
It is whispered from master to pupil.
“It would now seem clear,” Castiel glances at Edwin, “to all, that the professor’s death was no accident. The only question remaining in my mind on the matter is, was it the ghosts of Harrowstone that murdered him, or the necromancers of the Whispering Way?”
Kendra turns pale as a ghost.
".....oh.......oh....." she drops her tea and the cup shatters on the ground.
Wod:
She sits down, shocked.
Castiel starts. “My apologies Miss Lorrimer,” he says, kneeling to sweep up the shattered remains of the fine Tian cup with his gloved hand. “I did not hear you come in. I am sorry … but it appears very likely that your father’s death was the result of foul play … I know this is hard … but is there anything more you can tell us of his activities or demeanor over the weeks leading up to his death? I would see the perpetrators of this foul deed brought to justice, be they living or dead.”
"Um, no....other than he was possibly more pensive, anxious.....more secretive than usual.
Probably to keep me from going up there with him...."
she collects herself;
"I don't know, maybe some answers would be gleaned from his library? I can show you to the room."
He sighs. "Strange things are afoot in this town and this land ... maybe George is talking to you, somehow. But I saw him Wod, I examined him closely, and I can tell you he was not living."
"Castiel examine him? Tell Wod why George not rotten meat. Wod see battlfield. Two days then bodies fat and stinking. George sick long time. George not dead meat."
Kendra turns pale as a ghost.
".....oh.......oh....." she drops her tea and the cup shatters on the ground.Wod:
** spoiler omitted **She sits down, shocked.
<Wod snarls at her. Then picks at his foot.>
DM
Wod:
"Castiel you have dagger? Wod lose dagger in bad man's head. Give back to Castiel later."
Castiel strokes his head and glances at Edwin with a quizzically raised eyebrow – the detective is the deep thinker, not he … but Wod might have a point. “I’m not sure Wod. I’m not a mortician, I mostly just hurt things. If a body lies in a bog, or in ice, the rot can not set in …” He doesn’t remember George looking muddy, or covered in peat, or ice.
“Wod! One does not snarl at a lady.” He looks at the half-orc for signs of (further) instability. Having about a homicidal maniac with a big axe is one thing … if that maniac is jumpy too …
“I do have a dagger Wod, and I trust that you will return it … but what do you want it for?” The paladin is not too worried … he figures if Wod had mayhem on his mind, his axe would be preferable to a borrowed dagger …
"Um, no....other than he was possibly more pensive, anxious.....more secretive than usual.
Probably to keep me from going up there with him...."she collects herself;
"I don't know, maybe some answers would be gleaned from his library? I can show you to the room."
“An excellent suggestion Miss Lorrimer.”
“I do have a dagger Wod, and I trust that you will return it … but what do you want it for?” The paladin is not too worried … he figures if Wod had mayhem on his mind, his axe would be preferable to a borrowed dagger …
"Wod have splinter."
Warily, Castiel hands Wod the dagger.
<Wod will go sit in the corner and pick the splinter out of his foot while the idiots read their foolish books.>
DM
Wod.....heal check.
She shows Castiel and anybody else interested into the library.
It's a 20 by 20 room with a fireplace, and 4 massively backed plush leather chairs, and walls covered every inch with 10 foot tall bookshelves.
.....aaaaah....
Wod.....heal check.
<Wod seems to be having trouble getting his splinter out, although he has managed to stab himself in the foot pretty nicely.>